New DNC Ad Criticizes McCain Over Negative Attack Ads (VIDEO)

The DNC has released a new ad criticizing McCain for his aggressive turn towards negative campaigning. The spot ends with McCain, in a clip on the campaign trail from 2000, saying "if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future, or you're not ready to articulate it." As TPM notes, the McCain campaign's ad spending is now nearly 100 percent devoted to attack ads. Watch the DNC's new ad below.

CHYRON: "John McCain... readying a newly aggressive assault on Sen. Barack Obama's character." [Washington Post, 10/04/08]

VIDEO: Montage of McCain attack ads

CHYRON: John McCain is "looking forward to turning a page on this financial crisis." [Washington Post, 10/04/08]

VIDEO: Montage of McCain attack ads

CHYRON: McCain Campaign's Ad Spending Now Nearly 100 Percent Devoted to Attack Ads [Talking Points Memo, 10/3/08]

MCAIN: "I'm John McCain and I approved this message."

MCCAIN: "Uh, I, I just have to rely on the good judgment of the voters not to buy into these negative attack ads. Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it." [The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, 2/21/2000]

CHYRON: John McCain: We Can't Afford More of the Same

Comments

[pb28]

Just use the newspaper quotes and McCain on the bus to nowhere. Don’t use Obama’s name, it connects him too much to the lies McCain is spewing. Its confusing whether this is a pro Obama ad at the beginning. Not real professional.

[theplaintrutho1]

YES, that's the point I was searching for.

The "dumb-down" undecideds wouldn't, couldn't understand who the ad is referring to.

Thanks.

[freedomfighter1]

OMG, I LOVED THAT!

[Missmn]

This is quite possibly the worst ad I have ever seen.

[ohmetoo]

Yes very chopped and confusing. Do not use Obama's with something like this. Who put this together b clinton?

[theplaintrutho1]

He, he, he, he.

[Jennifer18]

This video of McCain is a perfect little gem. It should be at the heart of an ad like this right now, but I gotta say that this ad, as it stands, needs some serious re-editing. For someone not paying close attention, it comes across as an anti-Obama ad.

PLEASE DNC.... rework this into a clearer spot and get it out there! It's a great way to undercut the wave of slime that is building without going negative.

[theone718]

Don't you just love when we use his own words against him. O needs to come out with another ad talking to the people. They love those.

[timberdoodle]

All bloggers should continually be drawing attention to how McCain's mind has deteriortated and he isn't making any rational decisions and presents a clear and present danger to Amerca.

[politicalmomma2]

This ad has a huge amount of potential, but it is poorly prepared. It needs to be re-organized. The message itself is too important to ignore: McCain and Pailin have virtually no new, thoughtful, imaginative, or positive ideas, so they are resorting to tearing down their Democratic rivals.

[hoodie4u]

i totally agree. this ad, although clear in intent, relies too largely on audience interpretation and understanding the correlation of what mccain said then and what he's doing now. unfortunately in today's media, you have to quickly spell out exactly what you want the audience to know in order to achieve maximum impact.

[nellie]

Good ad.

[JTBldrCO]

This is a lousy ad. It's not clear what the message is, in the end. Out of 100, it's a 71 ... rework it PLEASE!

[jules815]

I agree! It has the potential to be a great ad, but it's a little confusing. I think of my parents in their retirement community in Florida -- for them and their neighbors, it would more than likely be confusing. The message is great, but should be re-worked. (slowed down)

[TheAntiSheep]

Yes, there have been negative ads from Obama too. The problem with politics here is you really HAVE to run negative ads. It's a nasty, nasty business, isn't it?

BUT, the key difference between the two campaigns is I've seen plenty of positive "here's what we plan to do" messages from Obama's campaign, with him speaking in person, whereas the McCain ads I've seen have been either wholly negative, or served merely to beat the same old rotting horse carcass of "being a maverick". So he's decided to go 100% negative, will anyone even notice a difference here in VA?

The simple truth needs to be driven home: McCain has told us nothing about his plans, and everything he can to smear his opponent. Which tells me everything I need to know about McCain's plans (clue: he doesn't have any he wants to talk about).

[Bronxcutie]

Good ad! I'm still waiting for the video of crazy Pastor Murtha and the Jew-converting pastor.

[cyndeewi]

I have been waiting for the Pastor Mutha stuff as well. No one is running it.

[SurrealPumpkin]

My guess is that it's being held in reserve in case the Repubs bring up Pastor Wright again. O isn't going to initiate any attacks, but he'll hit back hard when he's hit.

[substance43]

As we watch the debate Tuesday night, please send Barack Obama lots of love and positive energy as he goes up against John McCain. See him surrounded by beautiful white light. This will protect Barack againt the negative forces of the McCain camp.
Peace and blessing!


OBAMA:BIDEN
2008-2016

[Zingaro Zorro]

Anti-aricraft weapons have been used before to bring down the former Navy pilot, and this ground-to-air missile is a direct hit on his tail section.

Boom, Baby, Boom.

[Just2stressed]

Sen. Obama's supporters, PLEASE, PLEASE don't get complacent in thinking that the election has been won. Never accept victory before the time for victory has come. Remember, during the primaries, Sen. McCain's campaign was almost over, everybody thought he would not win the nomiation, and, he did.

This election is not yet over, Sen. Obama has not won, we don't know that he will. Therefore, Sen. Obama's campaign should fight with every breath. DO NOT watch the polls. People do lie to pollsters. They need to act is if they are the underdogs (in fact, they are the underdogs). The campaign should act as though they have everything working against them, not for them.

We are 29 days away. ANYTHING can happen during this time.

[Matt7]

I agree with you to an extent. We must be vigilant not complacent. Obama has not yet won. But he WILL.

[SHOPARAZZI]

'bout time. the dnc, moveon and other liberal orgs need to rev up the counterattacks bcuz this is not the time to be cordial to the gop's insideous, viceral, iniquitous attacks at a time when the economy is spiraling out of control and job-loss is at an all time high and will continue it's decline. this is an election "we" cannot afford to lose.

and a side note: mccain's character has just plummeted on an empty trampoline. he will stop at nothing to win the white house even lie, steal and cheat. he knows, with his age and health declining, that this election was his only hope and so he decided to win at all cost. is he remiss that his lack of upstanding integrity adversely affects his next run for his arkansas senate seat?

i dont want "another" leader like that. do u?